Commissioner Mary Mayhew of the Department of Health & Human Services said in a statement about the departure of Mary Louise McEwen that a change in leadership was needed at Riverview Psychiatric.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services cut nearly $20 million in funding in October after an audit determined Riverview was not compliant with federal rules. One of the incidents that prompted the audit involved a violent attack on a health care worker.

In October, a superior court judge permitted Court Master Daniel Wathen to resume active supervision of the hospital. The Kennebec Journal says Wathen’s most recent report says Riverview will require more state funds to make up for the federal funding loss.